Antstream: Play Retro Games

I’m enjoying the wide selection of games and historical curiosities, like being able to compare multiple versions of a particular game. There are some lag issues occasionally but performance is generally ok. Recommendations: Add a “Tate” mode for vertical shooters and other games that used a vertical display, such as dig dug. This should be a no brainer on portable devices that can easily be turned vertically to support these games in their optimal aspect ratio. Add an Apple TV version. Apple TV supports wired connections which will help lag issues immensely, not to mention being able to play these classics on the big screen. Yes, there’s mirror play but it was a choppy unplayable mess for whatever reason, a native app will fix this issue. Add a rewind function! Save states are nice but the lack of a quick load function makes it a pain to use for tricky sections of games. Speaking of which Add a quick load function!

I've tried two different types of game controllers and both failed after five to ten seconds of play. UPDATE to first review: After a couple of weeks of frustration, I discovered that the problem is connected to the use of a VPN service. When my iPad Pro is connected to a VPN service, regardless of the vpn server's location, game controllers work fine in Antstream's menu system but fail within five to ten second of game play. When the VPN service is shut off, the controllers works as expected. I've revised my rating from 1-star to 4-stars.

So while this app is free, you can’t play a thing unless you cough up at least $5 for a subscription. Without so much as having trials games (because if you have access to 1,300 licensed arcade games, how do you not offer a demo?) so you don’t even know how they play, this seems like a scam. Even if it isn’t, y’all don’t just waltz up and ask for money out the gate without giving us a chance to try your product. Hard pass.